Shafiqur slams ‘deceptive politics’ amid referendum debate

Bangla Press Desk:   Leader of the Opposition and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman said on Friday that they firmly reject and condemn “the politics of deception and fraud surrounding the referendum issue”.“No legal complications will be allowed to stand in the way of realising the verdict of the referendum,” he said while speaking as chief guest at the opening session of Jamaat’s district and metropolitan ameer conference at Al-Falah Auditorium in Moghbazar, Dhaka.

Dr Shafiqur asserted that the aspirations that arose through the July mass uprising have not been fulfilled through the election. 

“The reason is clear – the election was not allowed to be fair,” he said, stressing that history will one day conduct a post-mortem of this election, and many hidden truths will come to light.

The unwillingness of BNP to alter the current constitutional framework suggests an intention to govern the country in an authoritarian manner, he said, claiming that there is an ongoing effort to dismantle all democratic institutions.

The Jamaat ameer said, “The crisis was triggered by BNP members of parliament refusing to take oath, and it was brought to its full extent by the failure to convene the reform council session.”

Prime Minister has failed to fulfil his responsibilities by not calling both the parliamentary session and the reform council session within the stipulated 30-day timeframe after the election, he added.

Expressing concern over the banking sector, he said that hundreds of thousands of crores of taka have been looted from banks and siphoned off abroad. There was an ordinance to bring those responsible under the law and ensure punishment, but it has been scrapped. 

“Where is Bangladesh’s economy being taken?” he asked. “Banks belong to the people of the country, not to any political party,” he said.“Now, attempts to seize control of the banks have begun,” he said, criticising the humiliation of the former Governor of Bangladesh Bank and the appointment of a loan defaulter to the position of governor. 

He warned that banks belong to the people, not to any political party, urging everyone to act as guardians and raise their voices.

He said that in reality, we are witnessing the party being placed above the country, and the individual above the party. 

This mindset must change, he warned, adding that this political culture will no longer be allowed to continue in Bangladesh.

Criticising extortion, he said, “Introducing farmer cards, family cards, and health cards is commendable, but even these initiatives are being politicised and have become tools for extortion.”

On the global situation, the Jamaat Ameer said that those who are committing oppression are requested, for the sake of humanity, not to cause further harm to the world’s people. 

As independent nations, everyone must ensure an environment in which they can live side by side with dignity and respect. 

Urging that no one should inflict further suffering on the oppressed, he also called upon the United Nations to fulfil its responsibility as the guardian of the global community. Source: daily Sun

BP/TD